Richard Douglas hits 200 AFL games seeking to keep perfect record in milestone matches

RICHARD Douglas has seen plenty of change in a career that hits 200 games on Saturday. But there’s one thing he wants to follow its traditional script — the Crows winning his milestone matches.

Richard Douglas gets his handball away, despite pressure from Hawthorn's James Frawley. Picture: Michael Klein

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RICHARD Douglas either has perfect timing ... or he is a very, very lucky man.

Adelaide won in Douglas’ 50th AFL game — against Sydney at Football Park in 2009.

The Crows did the same in his 100th, in 2012 against St Kilda. “Good win that one,” says Douglas of the four-point thriller at West Lakes.

And again in his 150th, at the MCG against Collingwood in Adelaide’s erratic 2014 season. “That was a nice win when we weren’t playing great footy at that stage,” recalls Douglas.

“Let’s hope it continues,” adds Douglas who plays his 200th AFL game on Saturday at Metricon Stadium against Gold Coast, as Adelaide seeks its first 10-game winning streak against an AFL rival.

Douglas, 30, knows — particularly after his past two milestones — the moment brings the highlights tape to acknowledge the achievement ... and raise the eyebrows (if not motivation) of his teammates in the pre-game meeting.

“I’ve been playing a bit longer than most of the guys,” says Douglas, who has only Scott Thompson remaining from the Crows group he joined in the summer of 2005-6 as a first-round draftee.

“So they will not remember my younger years — and they’ll get a bit of a laugh out of me as an 18-year-old, skinny with longer hair. That’s always good fun.”

Douglas arrived at West Lakes when Adelaide Oval was still off limits to the AFL, the average player salary was $180,000 rather than $300,000, the league had 16 rather than 18 teams and Neil Craig was creating a formidable unit.

“Craigy had three assistant coaches — and that was it,” recalls Douglas with one of those assistants being Don Pyke, Adelaide’s current senior coach. “No development coaches; no leadership coach; no player welfare manager.

“I remember basically getting drafted and thrown in with (recruiting manager) Alan Stewart looking at your video and not a lot of contact with the senior coaches. Of the senior players, some were more approachable than others.

“But now the footy department is huge. The club has become a big business — it is huge.

“The game had just turned professional when I came here in 2005; now it is truly professional. In my 12 years, it is incredible how professional it has become.”

By the time the new collective bargaining agreement is done, Douglas will be seeking that final contract that will dwarf the pay cheque from his first.

But, big money aside, would he prefer to be starting today — when many AFL players say they find it hard to enjoy their work?

“No (not now) ... I wouldn’t,” Douglas says. “People are under a lot more pressure and expectation now. I’m not sure where the game is going, but the new CBA will deliver more money to the players — and more attention and expectation to give more.”

A thin Richard Douglas on the run in a pre-season match against Norwood in 2006. Picture: Ray Titus

Douglas labels himself — while still looking fresh faced at 30 — as an “old-fashioned” footballer.

“I still love the game; I love game day — that’s two hours where you get to play and forget about everything else from the week,” Douglas said.

“At footy clubs there are a lot of meetings, analysis — and I’m not big on that. I love training. I’m the old-fashioned footballer who enjoys the training and game day. All the rest, I can take it or leave it.

“I understand as a professional player you have to scout the opposition and deal with the demands. But as an older player, I’ll take less rather than more of it.”

Douglas, the 2010 Adelaide club champion, has had his part in the Adelaide system redefined repeatedly — and, at Game 200, has completed the loop in finding a stronger emphasis on his midfield work again.

“It has been challenging (to adapt to other roles),” Douglas said.

“I haven’t been able to settle in one position for a long period of time. I’m not sure if that has helped me, but I feel I’ve been flexible for the team — and that has kept me in the team when form may not have warranted a game.

“Being able to play forward, mid or back has helped — and at the same time I feel midfield always has been my better position and allows me to play consistent (football).”

Legend ... Richard Douglas meets Australian boxer Danny Green at West Lakes, before Green’s rematch against Anthony Mundine at Adelaide Oval this year. Picture: Matt Loxton

Pyke ‘most rounded coach’ Douglas has had

VERSATILE Richard Douglas has had six senior or interim coaches in his 200-game journey — Neil Craig, Mark Bickley, Brenton Sanderson, the late Phil Walsh, Scott Camporeale and now Don Pyke.

Pyke was the Crows midfield coach for Craig when Douglas was drafted to Adelaide in 2005. And, even with a senior profile in the high-focus AFL, Pyke remains as mysterious today as he was more than a decade ago.

“Don was fortunate with the list he inherited (after the Walsh tragedy),” Douglas says.

“But that means nothing really. He is so clear on his philosophy in football and he has come from a successful background, not just in football (as a premiership player with West Coast) but also in his personal life.

“Don knows what success looks like. He has been able to instil hard work in us that I feel we already had, but he has reinforced that.

Leaders ... Richard Douglas with coach Don Pyke and Sam Jacob in 2016. Picture: Keryn Stevens

“His knowledge of the game is second-to-none.

“He is not power hungry. He does not seek the limelight.

“He is happy to let assistant coaches take over and use their strengths, particularly when we have quality assistants at the footy club.

“He has empowered the leaders when we have good leaders. And he has encouraged us to do what we do well.

“Everyone gets drafted for a reason. We have talent.

“And that has made us a team that moves the ball so clean and precise to be a real strength with our attacking game. But at the same time Don wants us to be a good defensive side, so he is bringing that aspect to our team — and we are still working on that.

“He is the most-rounded coach I’ve had. You know what you are going to get.

“Each day he comes into the footy club and his demeanour is the same after a good win or a poor loss. He treats you with respect — and as a footballer it is great to have a coach who is not up or down and does not leave you treading on egg shells.”

RICHARD DOUGLAS

Age: 30 (b. February 6, 1987)

Height: 181cm

Weight: 80kg

Position: Midfield

Guernsey number: 26

AFL games: 199

AFL goals: 136

AFL honours: 2010 Malcolm Blight Medal as Adelaide club champion.

Recruited from: Broadford, pick No. 16 in 2005 AFL national draft.

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Originally published as Richard Douglas hits 200 AFL games seeking to keep perfect record in milestone matches